SIRT using SIR-Spheres microspheres has been shown to extend life, improve quality of life and in some cases can shrink tumours so much that they can be surgically removed or ablated.

SIR-Spheres microspheres improve survival by about five months in some patients with bowel cancer that has spread to the liver and who have failed previous chemotherapy.

In combination with chemotherapy, SIR-Spheres microspheres can reduce the size of liver tumours, increase life expectancy and improve quality of life for some patients with bowel cancer that has spread to the liver.

The National Institute for Care & Health Excellence reviewed SIRT for use in patients with both liver tumours that have spread from the bowel1 and primary liver cancer2 that cannot be treated by surgery and concluded:

Current evidence on the safety of SIRT is adequate

SIRT can delay the progression of the disease

In some cases liver tumours shrunk sufficiently so that they could be surgically removed